Negotiators from Washington and Tehran have hammered out a 60-day agreement framework aimed at halting regional conflict and launching talks on Iran's nuclear program, but the deal remains stalled waiting for President Trump to sign off, according to U.S. officials involved in the mediation.
Iran has signaled through intermediaries that it stands ready to accept the memorandum of understanding, though the government has not made a public statement confirming its position. The delay hinges entirely on Trump's decision, with aides saying the president requested several days to review the proposal before committing.
The agreement would represent the most significant diplomatic achievement since hostilities escalated, though officials stress that a final comprehensive deal addressing Trump's demands on nuclear restrictions will require intensive further negotiations once both sides enter talks.
The framework stipulates that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must operate without toll or harassment. Iran would be obligated to clear all mines from the waterway within 30 days. The U.S. naval blockade would be progressively lifted in tandem with the restoration of commercial traffic.
Washington has also agreed in principle to issue some sanctions waivers enabling Iran to resume oil sales, while the agreement commits Iran to renounce nuclear weapons development. Initial negotiations during the 60-day window would focus on disposal of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles and its enrichment activities moving forward.
The U.S. committed to discuss sanctions relief and the unfreezing of Iranian assets as negotiation topics. The deal also envisions establishing a mechanism for Iran to access goods and humanitarian assistance. A separate provision addresses ending the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, an issue that has previously sparked friction between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
U.S. officials said that Iran offered verbal commitments during negotiations demonstrating willingness to make nuclear concessions, but emphasized that concrete delivery remains uncertain. "We will not know until we get in the room, which is why we want to do this MOU. It gets both sides into the room to negotiate directly," one official stated.
Talks also contemplated promoting broader regional stability, with the Trump administration hoping to address Iran's support for regional proxy forces during the 60-day negotiation period. U.S. negotiators made clear that if Iran fails to deliver on nuclear issues during talks, Trump retains military and economic options. Any withdrawal of U.S. forces deployed to the region would be conditional on reaching a final comprehensive agreement.
The timing of Trump's decision remains unclear. He indicated Wednesday that he felt no urgency to rush the approval, and officials have not publicly discussed a timeline for his response. The situation underscores a pattern from earlier conflict stages in which negotiators believed they had reached agreement, only to see talks unravel.
Even as diplomats worked toward closure, fresh tension flared in the Strait of Hormuz within the past 48 hours, with U.S. and Iranian forces experiencing two separate skirmishes, indicating the fragility of any cessation agreement in the absence of broader political commitment.
Author James Rodriguez: "This deal hinges on Trump's blessing, but the real test comes in the room when both sides actually try to negotiate the hard stuff."
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